Kadie Riverin also had a strong performance for the Owls (8-11, 4-4 Conference USA), scoring 18 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists and five steals.

Rice led 37-18 at the half and increased its lead to 53-25 with 14:47 to go before the Green Wave's Nikki Luckhurst, who had 28 points, helped put Tulane back in the game. Luckhurst scored11 points over the next three minutes as the Green Wave ran off 17 unanswered points.

Luckhurst hit a 3-pointer with 6:40 left to cut the Owls' lead to 65-54 and then sank a pair of free throws with 2:45 left to bring Tulane within 73-67.